Senator Says Move Driven By People’s Interest As PDP Hands Him Ticket Ahead Of 2027 Polls.
Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has been confirmed as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the district, hours after he resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In a video seen by MEDIA ORCHID on Friday, the Kwara State PDP Chairman, Issa Bawa, formally handed the ticket to Mustapha, clearing the way for him to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general elections.
The handover came shortly after the senator, who also holds the traditional title of Turaki of Ilorin Emirate, announced his exit from the APC. He cited recent developments within the Kwara chapter of the ruling party.
In a letter obtained on Thursday, Mustapha said the decision followed weeks of consultations with stakeholders, supporters, constituents and other well-meaning Kwarans.
Mustapha said his decision to leave the APC was guided by his belief that politics should be driven by the interests of the people, principles and a clear sense of purpose.
“Where the path of a political platform no longer sufficiently aligns with these convictions and the aspirations of the people one represents, the honourable thing to do is to chart a new course,” he said.
The senator thanked the APC leadership, led by President Bola Tinubu, for the relationships and experiences he gained while in the party.
He also assured his constituents and supporters that his change of political platform would not affect his commitment to serving the people of Kwara Central.
“To my constituents, supporters, political associates and stakeholders in Kwara State and beyond, I assure you that while my political platform may change, my principles, my purpose and my commitment to the people remain unchanged,” Mustapha said.
Tension in the Kwara APC had been mounting, with reports that Mustapha was considering a switch to the PDP. Sources said he was reassessing his options after losing out in the party’s governorship primary, failing to secure the APC Kwara Central ticket, and amid growing internal rifts ahead of 2027.
Speculation intensified when the PDP’s then Kwara Central candidate, Yinka Otukoko, appeared to signal a willingness to step down.
Responding to a post by APC Kwara South aspirant, Nurudeen Adeyemi, on the ‘Kwara Commission’ WhatsApp platform, Otukoko wrote, “My ticket is for either Saliu Mustapha of G15 or Mashood Mustapha.”
Party members read the remark as a sign the PDP was ready to receive Mustapha.
The race further heated up on August 12 after billboards of former federal lawmaker, Mashood Mustapha, surfaced across the state, fueling debate over who would get the PDP ticket.
A senior PDP stakeholder, speaking anonymously at the time, said discussions were ongoing and named Mashood Mustapha as a possible contender.
“Barring any last-minute changes, MM’s name has been pencilled down for the position. However, the final decision remains with the party,” the source said.
With Mustapha now officially holding the PDP ticket, the contest for Kwara Central is shaping up as a direct showdown with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the APC candidate.
Analysts say the outcome could significantly shift the balance of political power in Kwara ahead of the 2027 governorship and House of Assembly elections.
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